TexasCHLforum.com

oljames3 wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

G26ster wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote: Handguns for the military are backup weapons, but us they are not only primary weapons, but likely the only weapons we will have if attacked.

Chas.

Then times have changed in the military Charles. In my infantry days, as mechanized infantry mortar squad leader my only issued weapon, and the only one I had if attacked, was a 1911.

What happened to the mortar? Sorry.........I couldn't help myself.

OK. Now you've gone and done it. At my first duty assignment after AIT I was a Redeye Gunner assigned to HHB of an artillery battalion. Individual weapon for Redeye Gunners was M1911. Years later, as an artillery oficer, my individual weapon was often a M1911 or M9.

In all cases, however, I considered by primary weapon to the the M109A5 self-propelled 155mm howitzer.

How do you carry one of those, OWB or IWB? I suppose that a shoulder holster would be a little too enterprising......

G26ster wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote: Handguns for the military are backup weapons, but us they are not only primary weapons, but likely the only weapons we will have if attacked.

Chas.

Then times have changed in the military Charles. In my infantry days, as mechanized infantry mortar squad leader my only issued weapon, and the only one I had if attacked, was a 1911.

What happened to the mortar? Sorry.........I couldn't help myself.

Liberty wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:
I will say this..... there have been a few times when shooting at falling steel plates that one of my 9mm bullets has hit the plate square on, dead center, and failed to knock it over; but a hit from a .45 puts the plate down with authority. I have ended up trying to place my 9mm shots on the plate so as to maximize the amount of leverage the impact has against the hinge. You never have to do that with a .45. I am fairly certain that a couple of 230 grain HST JHPs at a muzzle velocity/energy of 890 fps/404 ft-lb will hit someone harder than a couple of 135 grain Critical Duty JHPs at 1010 fps/306 ft-lb.

I don't know what you're using for range ammo, but you might consider Winchester WB NATO. It packs a little more punch than typical range ammo. I use it because it has similar recoil characteristics to my defensive loads. and it cost maybe a buck more than the standard WWB stuff

Thanks for the tip!

I carried a .45 1911 for a long enough time, then switched to a polymer double-stack .45 (M&P and a XDM), and then eventually to a polymer double-stack 9mm (G17/G19). I have pondered the idea of going back to carrying a .45, and decided not to. I like my .45s, and I shoot them well, but for me it ultimately comes down to my wife's preferences. I can shoot 9mm or .45 about equally well, but my wife can't. I made a decision a little over a year ago to carry platforms that she was familiar with and could shoot well, in the event that she might end up having to shoot one of my guns. We both own G43s. Her's is her EDC. We both own G19s. Mine is my EDC. She is also able to shoot my G17 fairly well. So a 9mm Glock it is, and that is what we've "standardized" on.

I will say this..... there have been a few times when shooting at falling steel plates that one of my 9mm bullets has hit the plate square on, dead center, and failed to knock it over; but a hit from a .45 puts the plate down with authority. I have ended up trying to place my 9mm shots on the plate so as to maximize the amount of leverage the impact has against the hinge. You never have to do that with a .45. I am fairly certain that a couple of 230 grain HST JHPs at a muzzle velocity/energy of 890 fps/404 ft-lb will hit someone harder than a couple of 135 grain Critical Duty JHPs at 1010 fps/306 ft-lb.

But, that said, 9mm bullets have disabled and/or killed a LOT of people since George Luger first introduced the cartridge in 1902. Either cartridge is just fine for self-defense. I do understand why someone would feel more comfortable with one caliber over another, but the issue doesn't particularly bother me.